Sunderland’s Jan Kirchhoff has been scooped the Premier League PFA Fans’ Player of the Month award for April.

The former Bayern Munich man won the award, which was voted for by fans in an online poll, ahead of Newcastle United’s Andros Townsend, who came second, with Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge finishing third.

Kirchhoff’s commanding performances throughout April were widely praised as the Black Cats picked up six points from five games against West Bromwich Albion, Leicester City, Norwich City, Arsenal and Stoke City, keeping three clean sheets in the process.

On winning the award, he said: "I would like to thank the supporters, who have been unbelievable since I arrived at Sunderland - they are simply amazing. Also my thanks go to my team-mates, without them it would not have been possible to win this award.

“This is a very special football club and I am honoured to accept the award on behalf of everyone.”

He was included on a 12-man long-list - which also included Spurs’ Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen, Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero, Leicester City’s N’Golo Kante and Leonardo Ulloa, Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez, Manchester United’s David de Gea, West Ham’s Andy Carroll, and Southampton’s Shane Long - which was picked by a panel that included Sky Sports pundits Paul Merson, Peter Beagrie and Ian Holloway.

That list was whittled down to three names yesterday, and after a final 24 hours of voting Kirchhoff has emerged as the winner.

Championship Player of the Month was Sheffield Wednesday’s Fernando Forestieri, with former Rotherham United’s Sunderland man Greg Halford finishing third.

Port Vale’s JJ Hooper won the League One award, and Oxford United’s Danny Hylton picked up the League Two award.